A Northern Ireland Under-14 girls’ development squad performed strongly at the four-team Associations Cup tournament.
At the tournament, which was staged at Allen Park in Antrim, they notched up two fine victories against Isle of Man and Jersey and lost a tight game against the Republic of Ireland.
Head Coach Stevie Graham said: “This was the first tournament together as a squad and it proved to be a valuable learning experience for our young players.
“The performance standards shown by the players in every match was very positive and this experience will help them greatly as they continue to develop and progress.”
Graham chose an 18-strong squad for the Associations Cup where he was assisted by Heather Mearns and Jack Little.
In game one the U14 girls defeated Isle of Man by seven goals to nil.
There were good early chances for Gracey Livingston, Aoife Conlon and Leah Hepburn and the Isle of Man goalkeeper made some great saves.
Northern Ireland went into the break two up thanks to great strikes from Sara Devany and Ella Kitson.
In the second half they put more pressure on with Katie McKenna and Eva Dunlop pushing higher and putting in some great crosses. They were also more clinical in the final third, forcing an own goal before Hepburn finished well from the edge of the penalty area and Cara McVeigh scored a brace.
In their second game they enjoyed an emphatic win against Jersey.
Northern Ireland started strongly and were four up at half-time thanks to a hat-trick from Kitson and a goal from Zion Donnan.
There was excellent build-up play for Kitson’s goals involving Donnan, Conlon and Connie Harper. Full-backs Molly Gray and Livingston provided good support, too.
Emilie Sylvester made a great run and put in a decisive cross which Donnan finished well.
In the second half Lara Longridge and Amelia Mason created opportunities before Kitson scored another two goals, and then Donnan got her second of the game. Lydia Devlin was on target before Conlon netted twice to complete the10-0 rout.
The third and final game against the Republic (Football Association of Ireland Schoolgirls team) was a much tougher encounter.
ROI started strongly and forced a series of corners which were defended well by Darcy Grayson and Devany. And keeper Ifeoma Agoha was quick to thwart any danger.
Hepburn played great through balls to Sylvester and Conlon but they could not convert the chances. However, Harper did manage to score from distance. Just before half-time ROI equalised through a header from a corner.
In the second half McVeigh created a couple of opportunities before Northern Ireland substitute goalkeeper Grace Greenhill made a superb save to push the ball around the post.
Northern Ireland pressed for a winner but the Republic scored with two powerful strikes from distance to win the game 3-1.
The U14 girls’ squad for the Associations Cup included:
Goalkeepers – Ifeoma Agoha (Maiden City), Grace Greenhill (Linfield Women).
Defenders – Molly Gray (Derry City), Sara Devany (Glentoran Boys), Darcy Grayson (Larne Women), Gracey Livingston (Linfield Women), Eva Dunlop (Ballyclare Comrades), Katie McKenna (Crusaders).
Midfielders – Connie Harper (Glentoran Women), Lara Longridge (Larne Women), Zion Donnan (Crusaders), Leah Hepburn (Loughgall), Cara McVeigh (Mid Ulster Ladies).
Forwards – Aoife Conlon and Ella Kitson (both Larne Women), Emilie Sylvester (Linfield Women), Amelia Mason (Crusaders), Lydia Devlin (Hanover).
NI at Associations Cup
